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Acts 23:34

in Acts 23

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

KJV

And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

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This verse in Acts 23

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
Of what province he was - Greek: of what heparchy ἐπαρχίας eparchias he was. He knew from the letter of Lysias that he was a Roman, but he was not informed of what place or province he was. This he doubtless did in order to ascertain whether he properly belonged to his jurisdiction. Roman provinces were districts of country which were entrusted to the jurisdiction of procurators. How far the jurisdiction of Felix extended is not certainly known. It appears, however, that it included Cilicia. Was of Cilicia - Tarsus, the birthplace of Paul, was in this province, Act 21:39.

This site's exposition

he asked of what province he was

on Acts 23:34-35

Felix's question about Paul's province, Cilicia, is a jurisdictional check, since a governor needed to know whether a case properly belonged to his own court or to the province where the alleged offense began. Finding Paul from Cilicia but the alleged crime committed in his own jurisdiction, Judea, Felix accepts the case and promises a hearing once the accusers arrive. Herod's judgment hall, Herod the Great's former palace in Caesarea now serving as the Roman governor's residence and praetorium, becomes Paul's address for what will stretch into two full years (24:27).

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 50 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. Already Lysias has spoken for his exculpation; but the Jews seek to gain the hearer beforehand. And he ordered him to be kept in custody in Herod's praetorium: again Paul is put in bonds.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Now that Paul was brought before them he thought to have faced them down, but could not, such was their wicked impudence. However, now was fulfilled in him what God promised to Ezekiel ( ch. iii.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

And when the governor, had read the letter,....

The words behind it

13 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

12 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 21:39But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”5 worksActs 25:1Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,4 worksActs 6:9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen,4 worksLuke 23:6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.2 worksEsther 1:1This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.2 worksEsther 8:9At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.2 works
The other 6 cross-references, with their words ▾
Daniel 6:1Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,2 worksDaniel 2:49And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.2 worksActs 15:41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.2 worksActs 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.2 worksGalatians 1:21Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.2 worksEzra 2:1Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Esther 8:9

    At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors,…

    it leads to

    • Esther 1:22

      He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his…

    • Esther 1:1

      This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.

  • Through

    Esther 1:1

    This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.

    it leads to

    • Daniel 9:1

      In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—

    • Ezra 4:6

      At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

    • Esther 9:30

      And Mordecai sent letters with words of peace and truth to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes,

    • Esther 8:9

      At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors,…

  • Through

    Acts 21:39

    But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”

    it leads to

    • Acts 22:3

      “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just…

    • Acts 9:11

      “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 23 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 50; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 23 →